Jathedar Said :- Can Not Take Back Fakar-e-Qaum Award from Parkash Singh Badal

Amritsar: Akal Takhat Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh today said that he cannot take back Fakar-e-Qaum award from Punjab CM and Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) patron Prakash Singh Badal. His statement came in wake of a memorandum submitted by Bandi Singhs Rihai Sangharsh Committee in which leaders of the Sangharsh Committee had urged Giani Gurbachan Singh take a back Fakar-e-Qaum award from Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal.

In a memorandum handed over to Giani Gurbachan Singh few days back, the committee blamed Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal for ruined state of Sikh affairs and increasing drug addiction in the state. They also accused the CM of “crushing their movement” for the release of the Sikh political prisoners, who have completed their minimum mandatory jail terms.

Giani Gurbachan Singh said that award to Punjab CM Badal was bestowed after a resolution passed by five Sikh Jathedars and he cannot overturn that resolution unilaterally.

He said that the Shiromani Gurdwara parbandhak committee and the Punjab government was already making necessary efforts for securing release of Sikh little Prisoners.

He said that he would extend every possible help within legal framework for securing release of Sikh political prisoners.

He said that if the Sangharsh committee has any “high stature” lawyer who have concrete information on the issue of Sikh political prisoners then it should inform SGPC as SGPC is already consulting lawyers of high stature on this issue.